With 2015 just around the corner, the Championship looks as difficult as ever to call with a little over half of the season remaining.
Six different teams have led the league at some point and at Christmas it is Eddie Howe's Bournemouth that hold a slender lead with 42 points from 22 games.
In fact, just four points separate the top six, with Ipswich Town, Brentford, Middlesbrough and Watford all in close pursuit of the Cherries.
Blackpool continue to struggle at the other end of the table and are 10 points from safety with just two wins to their name all season.
The Tangerines' presence in the drop zone doesn't come as too much of a surprise, but few would have predicted Brighton & Hove Albion and Wigan Athletic being down there with them.
Here, Sports Mole picks out the best XI of the season so far, in a balanced 4-4-2 formation, with a seven-man subs' bench and highlights the standout manager in the second tier.
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Some might immediately point to the free-flowing football of Howe's Bournemouth, or perhaps the way that Mick McCarthy has built a stubborn Ipswich Town squad without spending hardly anything on transfers, but our pick here is Bees boss Warburton. Given their two strong recent seasons in League One, the last of which resulted in automatic promotion, many wouldn't have picked Warburton's men to be toast in the Championship, but the way they have shot up the table and into the promotion race is mightily impressive. He completely outshone former Brentford manager Uwe Rosler, who didn't last as Wigan Athletic manager, and has more than proven himself at this level. Warburton has got the bread and butter stuff right with a strong home record and goals from all areas of the pitch.
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Despite disappointing form at home and a lot of draws, Wednesday have the third-best defence in the league with 21 goals conceded. Westwood is the only keeper with nine clean sheets and also made a crucial penalty save to ensure one of only two home victories against Reading.
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Has gone from strength to strength after an impressive return to the Championship with Bournemouth last season, when he appeared in all 46 games. He is strong in the tackle and also loves to get forward whenever he can. An excellent crosser of the ball, no defender has more assists than Francis's five.
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Arguably one of the best free signings of the last couple of seasons, Berra has been one of the key men in helping Ipswich achieve the second-best defensive record in the league. Always willing to put his body on the line, not only does he lead the league in blocks and clearances, he is also the top-scoring defender in the Championship with five goals.
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Ipswich's 20 conceded in 22 is impressive, but Boro have the best defence in the league with 17 conceded and nine clean sheets - no other team has more. Ayala is positionally sound and has made the second-most interceptions in his 20 appearances for the Teesside outfit.
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While Berra has been hugely impressive, Mings has perhaps been the pick of Ipswich's back four in a breakout season at left-back. After the departure of Aaron Cresswell to West Ham, Mings has slotted in and his performances in September especially earned him the Player of the Month award. Ipswich tied him to a new deal, but will they be able to fend off interest from the likes of Arsenal in January?
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The winger has grown and grown into the season and at Christmas he is arguably the division's standout player. The only player with a double-digit assist count (10), Ritchie has also had more shots than anyone else, recently showcasing his ability from long range with two strikes from distance against Blackpool.
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The only midfielder with more than seven goals this season. Boro captain Leadbitter has an impressive nine to his name. Five might have come from the penalty spot, but six of the nine came in a brilliant first two months, including this rocket in the 4-0 win over Brentford.
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Only Birmingham City's David Cotterill has more goals outside the area than Tozser's four. In fact, all of the Watford playmaker's goals have been directly from free kicks outside the box. The Hungarian is a calm influence on the ball and is in the top five in the division for successful passes.
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Brentford's recent run of seven wins in eight games has coincided with an upturn in form for Judge. The Irishman trails only Ritchie on the assist chart and is also more than willing to get in the thick of things. No player has made more tackles than him this season.
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Only Ipswich's Daryl Murphy with 14 has more goals than Martin (13) this term. He possesses all the qualities for a perfect striker in the Championship with good aerial ability, strong hold-up play and a poacher's touch in front of goal. If he gets one, he'll probably get another - four times this season he's scored a brace.
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When you look at Rovers' frontline, your eyes are drawn to Jordan Rhodes's name, but this season Gestede has been the star. A beast in the air, he has won the most headers in the division and also has 12 goals to boot. Six of those have been headed, two more than anyone else.
Substitutes: David Button (Brentford, GK), Michael Mancienne (Nottingham Forest, CB), Craig Forsyth (Derby County, LB), David Cotterill (Birmingham City, RM), Nathan Redmond (Norwich City, RM), Daryl Murphy (Ipswich Town, ST), Callum Wilson (Bournemouth, ST)
Pascal Lemesre
